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Just an FYI, I completely removed those oil stains, but not really a 100%. Since the limestone was such a matte honed tumble finish I scraped the dark spots with a grout scraper blade to make the dark spots white and they disappeared.Desperate times call for desperate measures! 😝Tony DeLuna925-625-9625On Jan 5, 2021, at 5:58 PM, Eduardo Ramos <info@nextgenstonecare.com> wrote:Thank you! Priceless information.On Tue, Jan 5, 2021, 2:04 PM Fred Hueston <fhueston@gmail.com> wrote:Here is the articleFrequently Asked questions about sealers, penetrating sealers and impregnators
By Frederick M. Hueston
The use of sealers and impregnators on granite and other stone is becoming a standard practice in our industry. With this practice comes a little controversy on the use of these products. The following are some common questions I get on this subject.
Q. What is a sealer, impregnator and penetrating sealer? How do they differ?
The terminology used in the stone industry can be confusing and often misused. The following are some definitions that will help clear up this confusion;
Sealer- According to Webster’s Definition a sealer is a coat (as of size) applied to prevent subsequent coats of paint or varnish from sinking in. In the other industries such as the cleaning and janitorial industry a sealer is similar in that it is a coating that is placed on the surface of a substrate to seal it so something else can be applied. In the stone industry a sealer is also defined as a coating. In the scientific community the proper description is called a "Film Former," since when applied it forms a film on the surface of the stone.
Impregnator- Again, according to Webster’s definition to impregnate means to cause to be filled, imbued, permeated, or saturated. In the stone industry the same definition applies. Impregnators penetrate below the surface of the stone and protect from within. There is no coating or filmed formed on the surface of the stone.
Penetrating Sealers- Penetrating sealer is really a type of oxymoron if we go by the pure definition of each term. If a sealer is a coating that sits on the surface then how can it also penetrate into the stone.? This term however is often used interchangeable with an impregnator. Technically you would expect that a penetrating sealer penetrated below the surface and also forms a film on the surface of the stone. While there are products that can do both, most of the products, with few exceptions our industry do not.
Some other terms used in our industry are also worth mentioning:
Consolidents- A consoildant is a product that is used on stone to bind loose particles of the stone back together. In otherwords to glue loose stone together. These are often used on historic stone structures that become loose and brittle. A condition known as sugaring, since the fine stone particles are like sugar. There are numerous types of consolidants and it is beyond the scope of this article to go into more detail. Most impregnators do not act as consolidants.
Q. How do impregnators work
Impregnators work by reducing the pore size of the stone by filling the pores with a resin. The resins are small enough to prevent complete blockage of the pores, so the stone will still allow vapor to pass through while not allowing a liquid to penetrate. Some of the resins used are very hydrophobic and/or lyophobic. In other words they repel water and oil, depending on the type of resin used.Note: in most of the literature you will see the word Oilophobic, meaning oil repellent. This is the incorrect term and this word does not exist. The proper term for oil repellent is Lyophobic.
Q. Why is breathability necessary
All stone must transpire vapor. In other words, it must breathe. If a stone's pores are totally blocked vapor will condense within the stone and the stone will be saturated with moisture. This can lead to numerous problems such as spalling, iron oxidation, etc. The moisture can also carry soluble salts which are often deposited on the surface of the stone(efflorescence), If the salts are not allowed to escape to the surface, they will be deposited in the pores of the stone and cause deterioration.
Q. What types of impregnators are there?
Impregnators can be broken down into several categories. They can be water based or solvent based. Most impregnators also contain one of two main ingredients: Silicon derivatives or fluoro alphatics. In generally the silicone types repel water and the fluoro types repel both water and oil. Many companies are going to strictly water based formulas due to the fact that they are safer to use, have little order and are better for the environment.
Q. Are sealers safe for food handling areas?
This will all depend on the manufacturer. Generally once the impregnator has dried and cured it should be safe for most food handling situations. However, to be sure check with the products manufacturer.
Q. What problems do you see with impregnators
The problems I have seen to date are few and almost always caused by misapplication of the product. If the impregnator is left on the surface of the stone and the excess is not removed, it can cause the stone to be sticky, making removal difficult.
Recently I have seen some solvent based impregnators reacting to resined slabs causing clouding or discoloration.
Another problem is applying an impregnator to a wet stone. If the stone is wet, the impregnator will not penetrate and hence it wont perform as expected.
Overall, most impregnator are trouble free.
Q. How often must an impregnator be applied
This will also depend on the type and use of the stone. I generally recommend that they be applied about once per year. More frequently applications may be necessary for commercial applications.
Q. Does all stone need to be sealed?
This is an ongoing debate in the industry. There are those who say that all stone needs to be sealed and others who say that only some very porous stone needs sealing. The best test is to perform a simple absorbency test as follows: Place about a teaspoon of water on the stone surface and allow it to sit for one to two minutes. If the stone becomes dark under the water, which indicates that it is absorbent, then the stone will need to be sealed.
Q. Are sealers and impregnators UV resistant?
Again, this will depend on the type. In general, since they work below the surface most will be UV resistant. Remember that UV light is very powerful and will eventually have an effect on any sealer or impregnator. Most topical sealers are not UV resistant and will discolor over time.
Q. Are stone Impregnators Stain Proof?
No, Any sealer will only render the stone surface stain resistant. In other words it will buy you time to clean it up. The longer the stain sits on the surface the longer it has to soak in? Caution: Hot oils and anything that is hot will penetrate through most sealers. Todays impregnators and sealers do not work with hot liquids.
The above information is based on current knowledge, but one must be aware that the chemistry of impregnators and sealers can and will change. My best advise is to keep up with current trends and ask lots of questions when looking into any new product.
Frederick M. Hueston
www.stoneforensics.comOn Tue, Jan 5, 2021 at 2:21 PM Fred Hueston <fhueston@gmail.com> wrote:I have an article I can send you--On Tue, Jan 5, 2021 at 1:56 PM Eduardo Ramos <info@nextgenstonecare.com> wrote:From my experience and what I normally tell my clients is that impregnator sealers are designed to be a temp resistant to water or oils but the reality is if a stain like the example of the olive oil is left long enough it can potentially penetrate the stone and cause staining that may not be 100% reversible. There have been times where it comes out but I set expectations low upfront before starting any work.Looking forward to responses. Let us know the outcome. :-)On Tue, Jan 5, 2021, 12:37 PM Stuart Rosen <mail@stoneshine.com> wrote:Tony-Performance of an impregnating sealer"To temporarily inhibit the intrusion of staining agents into the stone"Am sure Fred might have something more extensive.On Tue, Jan 5, 2021 at 12:29 PM Tony Deluna <tndeluna@gmail.com> wrote:Hey Pros, can someone direct me to an article that explains expectations and tolerance of etching and staining of natural stone even after sealing?
I have a difficult customer with limestone through out a new house just built.
We pre-sealed before installation and then again after install with Porous plus.
His wife dripped olive oil on the kitchen floor which left stains and now he’s accusing us of not sealing it!
Any help would be great!
Thanks
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sccpartners@stoneandtilepros.simplelists.comFrederick M. Hueston
www.stoneforensics.comoffice 321 514 6845For more details see the training section at www.stoneforensics.comcheck out the Stone and Tile Radio Show at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/drfred Airs every Wednesday at 6pm ESTArticle Blog stoneforensics.blogspot.comThe information contained in this email message is intended only for the personal and confidential use of recipients and above. The message may be in attorney-client communication and or work product and as such as privileged and confidential. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient or an agent responsible for delivering it to the intended receipt, you are hereby notified that you have received this document in error. Any review, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by email and delete the original message.--Frederick M. Hueston
www.stoneforensics.comoffice 321 514 6845For more details see the training section at www.stoneforensics.comcheck out the Stone and Tile Radio Show at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/drfred Airs every Wednesday at 6pm ESTArticle Blog stoneforensics.blogspot.comThe information contained in this email message is intended only for the personal and confidential use of recipients and above. The message may be in attorney-client communication and or work product and as such as privileged and confidential. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient or an agent responsible for delivering it to the intended receipt, you are hereby notified that you have received this document in error. Any review, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by email and delete the original message.
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